Pitbull Myths and the Truth

pitbull_baby.jpgHave you seen a full-grown Pitbull? You probably will agree with me that this stocky, muscular, and big dog will make your spine chill. I will not blame you; you probably have seen stories in television, newspaper and probably have heard of banning of Pitbulls in the United States. However, if you want a friend, a very loyal friend who will protect you and your family, you need a Pitbull.

The picture to your left is my 3 month old son and my American Pitbull Terrier napping!

Believe it or not, pitbulls are amazing dogs. We have owned them for years and have been by far the best breed we have ever owned. This agile, playful, and caring dog will be your best friend for life. Pitbulls will protect you, your family and will be a best friend for life.

Knowledge in care and training of a pitbull is what is necessary. If you want a Pitbull but do not have experience in caring for it, seek help from a reputable Pitbull breeder. I would also highly recommend dealing with a knowledgeable pitbull breeder who has experience in ethical breeding standards.

Here are some common pitbull myths and the truths behind them.

Myth 1 – Pitbulls has a locking jaw mechanism. This is untrue. Experts examine the skeleton of a Pit Bull and state that skulls, mandibles, and teeth of a Pitbull are proportionate to its size. The jaw structure and functional morphology is not different from other any dog breed.

In reality, because of its size, Pit Bulls are bred for dog fighting, farm working, and protector of their owners. Thus, they have the tendency to ignore severe pain with the intension of finishing the job. If the training of your Pitbull is for dog fighting, he will stop at nothing just to finish his task. He will ignore pain and will do what he must do. If he feels that his family is at risk, he will ignore even poisonous snakebite just to ensure the life of his human family.

Myth 2 – Pitbulls are not affected by dog repellent sprays. Pitbulls may or may not be affected by capsaicin-based dog repellent sprays. It is just like in human where some people are not affected by OC gas spray. Another possible reason is that dogs tend to ignore minor pain. They do not seem to be affected but then minutes later, it could just do its job. It may also be true that indeed they are not affected because dog repellent sprays do not affect other breeds like Bull Mastiffs, Rottweilers, and many German Shepherds.

Myth 3, Pit Bulls continue attacking even after being shot. Aggression is common to animals especially if they are not trained to socialize. As mentioned above, a Pit Bull has the tendency to stop at nothing to finish his task. He will not stop attacking until he has served his purpose. This is true to any dog or animal on that matter not just the pitbull dog.

Myth 4- Pitbulls are not good with kids. This is one of the most appalling myth of all! Pitbulls have never been bred to be human aggressive! They were bred many years ago to be animal aggressive, which is completely different than human aggressive.

They are wonderful family dogs! I personally have 4 children and have raised all of my kids around pitbulls. They love kids and human companionship!

The key to owning a good pitbull is to deal only with reputable breeders who breed for quality!

Where do all these myths come from? The Media and the legislators that passed the ban of breeding and care of Pitbulls and other breeds that resembles a Pit Bull. These myths are also from rumors being spread by people who are not educated on the breed.

American Pitbull look-alikes attacks have also helped being on the bad name for the breed. Breeds like the Dogue De Bordeau, Alpha Blue Bulldogs, Vizsula, Dogos, and even Cane Corsos and Black Mouth Curs look allot like American Pitbull Terriers. When these dogs bite or attack, people generally immediately call them pitbulls!

You want to test your pitbull skills? Play the Can You Identify The Pitbull Game! Most people can not select the REAL pitbull!

Top 10 Dog Breeds of 2007

I was looking over the 2007 AKC Registration Figures to see what the world thought about different dog breeds. Here are the statistics from 2007 according to dog registrations.

Here are a few of the top 10 breeds listed under the city.

Atlanta’s Top Dog Breeds

  1. Labrador Retriever
  2. Golden Retriever
  3. German Shepherd
  4. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  5. Boxer
  6. Yorkshire Terrier
  7. Shih Tzu
  8. Miniature Schnauzer
  9. Doberman Pinscher
  10. Dachshund
Baltimore’s Top Dog Breeds

  1. Labrador Retriever
  2. Golden Retriever
  3. Boxer
  4. Yorkshire Terrier
  5. German Shepherd
  6. Pug
  7. Poodle
  8. Dachshund
  9. Rottweiler
  10. Bulldog
Tampa’s Top Dog Breeds

  1. Labrador Retriever
  2. Yorkshire Terrier (tied with #1)
  3. Golden Retriever
  4. German Shepherd
  5. Boxer
  6. Dachshund
  7. Poodle (tied with #6)
  8. Bulldog
  9. Rottweiler
  10. Chihuahua
Washington Dc’s Top Dog Breeds

  1. Labrador Retriever
  2. Yorkshire Terrier
  3. Poodle
  4. Shih Tzu
  5. Golden Retriever
  6. Boxer
  7. German Shepherd
  8. Boston Terrier
  9. Pug
  10. Rottweiler
Chicago’s Top Dog Breeds

  1. Labrador Retriever
  2. German Shepherd
  3. Yorkshire Terrier
  4. Boxer
  5. Golden Retriever
  6. Rottweiler
  7. Doberman Pinscher
  8. Bulldog
  9. Pug
  10. Vizsla
Dallas’ Top Dog Breeds

  1. Labrador Retriever
  2. Yorkshire Terrier
  3. Golden Retriever
  4. German Shepherd
  5. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  6. Boxer
  7. Dachshund
  8. Miniature Schnauzer
  9. Rottweiler (tied w/#8)
  10. Pomeranian

As you can see the Lab was #1, the Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, and Boxer appeared on every top 10 list. I had no clue that Golden Retrievers were so popular and was very shocked to see many of the top 10 dog breeds to be large dogs!

Doberman a Watchdog to be Remembered

The Doberman is a breed of its own. The breed was created by Louis Doberman who was looking for a great watch dog to protect him in his rounds of the bad areas where he lived. The Doberman was noted in 1908 by the American Kennel Club and soon became the second most popular breed in the United States.

The average life expectancy of the Doberman is fourteen years. Though the dog is moody it is expected to be one of the loyalist and most protective breeds. The Doberman has short hair and is generally black and tan in color.

We all understand that you want to protect your pets from common diseases and illness so here are a few health issues related to Dobermans:

  • Addison’s disease: This disease is a defect which lowers the production of the dog’s adrenal hormones.
  • Thyroid Dysfunction: Can work too much or not enough depending on the hormones.
  • Chronic Active Hepatitis: This disease is a biological dysfunction that causes the dog’s body to not take out the copper it consumes. The disease effects the liver and can be fatal.
  • Hypoyhyroidism: Caused by the thyroid gland not producing enough hormone to adequately maintain the dog’s metabolism.
  • Hip Dysplasia: Is an inherited disease of the hip joint. Any Doberman purchased from a breeder should be offspring of parents that are OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) certified with a excellent, good or fair rating.

Common conditions in the Doberman breeds:

  • Mange
  • Dandruff
  • Allergies

The Doberman is a good pet for families if it is raised from a puppy around kids and adults. The Doberman however lives best around adults. It has a mildly moody temperament but is a great protector of your home.

Every Doberman I have ever met has been fairly laid back and not hyper. I know know homes to own them that had children as well as homes with adults only.

The Doberman is a truly enjoyable dog to have as a pet. There has been fewer reports of Doberman attacks then other small breeds.

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